Library (1/10/06)

[janet_fraiser]

After ACJ, Janet went up to her room, grabbed her backpack, and came back over to open up the library. She sat down behind the Collections Desk and started to process any library card applications that weren't finished yesterday.

Comments

[janet_fraiser]

"Now you're looking at the entire issue of nature vs. nurture," said Janet. "While people may have innate tendencies towards goodness, it's not guaranteed that all of them do. What about those born with the potential to develop Antisocial Personality Disorder? Or simply someone born with violent or aggressive tendencies? If they grow up in an environment which isn't going to help them suppress those tendencies, then they may not be innately good. A large part of our behavior is determined by environment, some of it by heredity, and unfortunately, there's no easy answer to your question."

Janet may have both listened to Daniel a lot on the subject and done more than a little studying up on it herself.

"Well, we've already talked about the media influencing people, and I do agree," said Janet. "We're living in a consumer culture, and commercials are designed to increase consumption." She frowned at the mention of Twinkies. "I think they're empty calories, full of processed chemicals and sugars which, when ingested, will cause insulin levels to spike. There's absolutely nothing in the way of nutritional value to them whatsoever." She smiled. "That said, they taste pretty good."

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

"But they taste good?" Blair nodded and scribbled twinkies into his notebook.

"If the consumers are influenced by the media and the media is controlled in some form by the government, then doesn't that mean the government is controlling the populace?" Blair paused and bounced. "Do you have a twinkie? For purely scientific purposes?"

[janet_fraiser]

"They taste very good," said Janet.

"But is the media controlled completely by the government?" asked Janet. "It's got a high level of autonomy, even if it is influenced, in party, by the information about politics that the government chooses to release. In fact, the whole concept of the press being free of government control is written into the Constitution." Janet watched him bouncing and wondered if duct tape would manage to stop it. "So I disagree that the government is controlling the populace."

"Sadly, I'm not a purveyor of Twinkies," said Janet. She frowned. "Talk to Xander Harris. He seems to have a neverending supply of them."

OOC: Sorry to be so long in replying, but Tuesday nights I don't get online after work 'til about 9 CST.

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

Blair nodded, "I respect your disagreement, Janet. To be honest, I've not done a lot of research about it. But I'm going to add that to my list of things to study and maybe we can talk again sometime!" He bounced happily as he talked.

Blair nodded seriously and scribbled Harris=Twinkies in his notebook as well. "I think I'm going to be running late for my class with Professor Jackson, so I should get going. Is there anything else I need to do for the library card?"

[janet_fraiser]

"I'd like that," said Janet. "Disagreement in a discussion can mean exposure to different points of view. As long as everyone can manage not to lose their temper, at least." She grinned. "I'd like that."

"Just the application," said Janet. "I'll process it, and the next time you come in you can pick up the card when you check out a book. Have fun with Dr. Jackson's course. He's an extremely good teacher."

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

"He is!" Blair bounced happily. "Even if he doesn't think I should worry about colleges just yet..which I hope is good advice. I've got him for two classes and boy am I hungry!" Blair's stomach growled and he laughed, bouncing a little before stuffing his notebook back into his backpack.

"I'm going to grab something to eat and head to class. See you later, Janet!"

[janet_fraiser]

Janet waved goodbye, bemused.